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[ My Cichlid Tank ] [ Advertising terms ] [ Site Map ][ Up ][ Peacocks ] [ C. Frontosa ] [ P. Zebra ] [ Duboisi ] [ Tropheus Pemba Orange Flame ] [ C. Moorii ] [ Electric Blue Hap ] [ Venustus ] [ T. Buttikoferi ] [ Demansoni ] 

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Profile and Description of African Cichlids Cyphotilapia Frontosa
Profile Distribution : Lake Tanganyika (Endemic) Size : Up to 14 inches for Male, smaller for female. Growth rate appear to be slow under captivity. PH : 8.6 to 9.5  Temperature : 22 to 29 0 C (higher temperature for breeding). Hardness : Hard to very hard, alkaline water. Diet : Piscivore. Flake, freeze fried & frozen and pellet food. Live food such  as prawns and earthworms. Not advisable to give them floating food. Breeding : Open polygamous, mouth brooder. Sexual Difference :  Males are much larger with longer flowing fins and well developed nuchal hump (not always accurate).   Blue Zaire Photo Courtesy of Cichlids Forever See Other Related Topics: My Cichlid Tank African Cichlid Central America Cichlid South America Cichlids Main photo Gallery Articles Aquarium Books Links	Description This fish lives at great depths (bottom dweller) in Lake Tanganyika and often suffers from swim bladders problems for wild caught fishes. They are mostly restricted to the rocky areas in the wild. They are rather intolerant of poor water condition and demand regular, frequent water but small water changes.  It is best to keep them in groups from small as the males are very intolerant of each other. Growing them up together has the advantage of establishing the "pecking" order early to  prevent over-aggressiveness to establish dominance in the tank. The dominant male (or normally called the Alpha Male) is usually the biggest and often with a obvious nuchal hump. However, to other fishes, Frontosa are fairly peaceful.    Check out my Frontosa poster Courtship is rather low-key. The females only spawned with the dominant male and this normally happen in the Alpha Male's Cave. After the ritual, the female with the eggs in her mouth take refuge to brood the eggs. Therefore for successful spawning, the aquarium would require some form of "cave" for the male and adequate hiding places for the female.	I have 7 Frontosa in 1 of my tanks by themselves and personally like the cool,  calm and majestic manner that  they present themselves.  They can be quite dump and slow to find food.  It is best to keep these fish by itself as they are rather easily harass by quicker and bigger fishes. There are various strains of Frontosa ranging from the common Burundi, to Mpimbwe, Ikola, Zaire Blue, Zambian, Samazi Blue, Kasanga and Kavalla Yellow Dorsal. These are normally named after the area that they are found as Lake Tanganyika transit through a few countries in Africa. Blue Zaire Photo Courtesy of Cichlids Forever See Other African Cichlid Profiles : Peacocks C. Frontosa P. Zebra Duboisi Tropheus Pemba Orange Flame C. Moorii Electric Blue Hap Venustus T. Buttikoferi Demansoni

[ My Cichlid Tank ] [ Advertising terms ] [ Site Map ][ Up ][ Peacocks ] [ C. Frontosa ] [ P. Zebra ] [ Duboisi ] [ Tropheus Pemba Orange Flame ] [ C. Moorii ] [ Electric Blue Hap ] [ Venustus ] [ T. Buttikoferi ] [ Demansoni ] 

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Last update : 2 Jun 09

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